Category Archives: Capitol Hill

The music has started, the decorations are going up, and each night, another house is lit up in the most festive of colors. If you ARE ready for some good ol’ fashioned Holiday cheer (so, basically unless you’re Scrooge?), head down to the Nordic Heritage Museum’s Annual Yulefest this Saturday and Sunday, November 18th and 19th!

Yulefest features all things Scandinavian and all things holiday, making it the perfect event to get in that ’God Jul’ (Merry Christmas) spirit!

Enjoy traditional Nordic-inspired items from many different vendors, plenty of delicious Scandinavian sweet and savory treats at the Nordic Cafe (even get some to go for later!) and traditional and contemporary Nordic music and dance will be performed on three different stages.

Kids are encouraged to have fun and get crafty with plenty of kid-oriented crafts, a raffle and the opportunity to meet the man we all want a visit from in December, Santa Claus (or, Julenissen in Norwegian, Jultomten in Swedish)!

Grown-ups are also encouraged to have plenty of fun and toast the season in the Valhalla Beer Garden (which will be nice and toasty warm!) with a tasty beverage including the Nordic-fav hot mulled wine, glögg. Skål (cheers!) to that!

Yulefest is a wonderful celebration of culture, the holidays and community. If you’re ready for some serious holiday spirit, good food, fun music and maybe even some holiday shopping, Yulefest is the place to be!

If you’ve never done it before, the Christmas Ships are a Northwest tradition worth checking out!

The Argosy Cruise Christmas Ship Festival is an annual Pacific Northwest tradition, going strong since 1949. Each year, the Argosy Christmas Ship, adorned with twinkle lights and Holiday cheer, sets sail from a different port around the greater Seattle area. On board the Christmas Ship, a local choir serenades passengers with a 20-minute performance of beloved Christmas Carols.

The Carols are broadcast to the entire community through a state of the art speaker system, so if you can’t be on the ship, you can still enjoy the Christmas magic from a distance. Folks from all around the neighborhood gather on the shore to behold the glimmering lights of the beautifully decorated ship and to hear the Carols being sung on board. It’s a great opportunity for a bonfire and mug of cocoa with the kids!

There are multiple opportunities to see or be a part of the Christmas Ship, at over 65 different waterfront locations in the greater Seattle area. Each Lead Boat has tons of fun going on board, like

* Choir performance on board

* Santa Claus reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”

* Ho, Ho, Ho Contest and other holiday activities

* Holiday Gift Shop on board

* Kids holiday craft area and activities

* Full-service bar and snacks available for purchase

Argosy generously donates a portion of all tickets sold to the Seattle Time’s Fund For The Needy, so your purchase of a ticket goes to help those in need, right here at home.

The Christmas Ships Festival is a beloved tradition around here for a reason. Be sure to experience it for yourself this year!

In a city as beautiful as Seattle, it’s easy to forget some ugly truths that linger beneath the surface.

A local group calling themselves “Safe Seattle” is having a meeting tonight, bringing to the forefront the growing public safety issues facing the city and calling the city’s inhabitants to action.

This meeting was organized by Cindy Pierce, a resident of Magnolia, to shine a light on and address the growing problem of drug dealing and use, theft, illegal encampments and other public safety problems that are increasingly impacting residents and business owners in various areas of the city such as Ballard, Queen Anne and Magnolia, to name a few. The goal of the meeting is to bring together residents of the community to talk about and demand action in regards to these issues, which, some say are reaching crisis level.

The meeting is expected to earn a potentially big turnout, due in large part to the response it’s had on social media. The meeting will include representatives from city hall and people from different neighborhoods throughout the city speaking on the issue.

The meeting will be held tonight, January 6th, from 6:30-8:30 PM at United Church of Christ in Magnolia 3555 W McGraw St.

A tradition since 1960, the St. Demetrios Greek Festival returns this year,
September 13, 14 and 15 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood. Traditional Greek food, music, dancing and culture will be in abundance when St. Demetrios Church’s grounds and parking lot, located at 2100 Boyer Avenue East, transform into a Greek paradise.

Visitors will have plenty of time to enjoy all that the Greek Festival has to offer this year, with hours of operation from noon—9pm on Friday, September 13th; 10am—10pm on Saturday, September 14th and noon—7pm on Sunday, September 15th. As always, admission and parking are free, with free shuttle service offered from both the Seattle Prep Parking Garage and Montlake Elementary School Playground on Saturday and Sunday during festival hours. Bike racks will also be available all weekend

If you are looking to get outside and enjoy our extended summer this weekend, make the short trip from Ballard over to Montlake and enjoy everything the Greek Festival has to offer. For more information make sure you visit their website at SeattleGreekFestival.com.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Check out what is going on around the Sound on this fabulous day of LOVE!

Did Valentine’s Day sneak up on you this year? Forget to make reservations at your hunny’s favorite spot? Check out one of these restaurant’s to indulge with your significant other!

Bastille– If you’re in the Ballard neighborhood tonight, Bastille is offer his and her punch for $10 a glass (his:Stockade, hers:Sainte Marie), and various Parisian style entrees that are sure to please the pallet; including a platter of a dozen Hama Hama oysters on the half shell with caviar and Washington Ver Jus Mignonette, yum!

Spinasse– This lovely Capitol Hill restaurant is offering two amazing prix fixe menus at one of the “best 7 restaurants that define Seattle Now” according to Seattle Magazine. Dinner specials are sure to make diners feel as if they’re dining at a cafe right in the heart of Rome at this authentic Italian hot spot. Dinner is $70 per person with a $40 wine pairing option.

Restaurant Bea– Cozy Madrona candlelit dinging experience for two, with chef Jim McCarthy serving up a three course meal off of their comfort food menu, and offering three choices for each course. Dinner is $50 per person, with an optional cocktail or wine pairing for $22 per person.

Hunger-Indulge in a 5 course menu including beef tartare, oysters, and a special rose will be delivered for your significant other when you’re bellies are nice and full of love. $150 per couple, with an optional $25 wine pairing.

The month of December is filled with Holiday activities around the city of Seattle, and an all time favorite for many Seattleites includes the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival. It’s been a holiday traditional celebration in the Pacific Northwest since 1949, and every year from November 24th through December 23rd the Argosy Christmas Ship sets it’s sails around the Sound to various waterfront communities including Gasworks Park, Pier 55, Alki Beach Park, Shilshoe, Laurelhurst Beach Club among many many others (45 to be exact).

The ship has different choirs performing, brightening the festivities for patrons on board. A nice addition to the Christmas ship experience is that on shore along the different water front community stops, locals gather around singing carols and anticipating the arrival of the ships, welcoming those getting off, and either hopping aboard the ship, or one of the parade ships that follow. Those who have their own boats can decorate theirs with lights and join in the line of as one of the largest holiday floating parades in the world! The schedule this week includes two value nights on Tuesday and Wednesday, ($10 knocked off the standard $35 per person price) with choirs such as the Dickens Carolers, Rainier Youth Choir, and the Federal Way Harmony Kings. You won’t want to miss out on this wonderful NW Christmas tradition, for more information on the Christmas Ship Festival and schedule, visit their website today.

Do you find yourself getting bored of hanging out at the same neighborhood bar, just around the corner form your apartment? Try something different next time your in the mood for a change of scenery, and check out one of the local favorites around the city of Seattle. Seattle Weekly has compiled an extensive list of fun and funky places to order a brew and watch a Sounders game, or play a round of shuffleboard or pool with your friends. Check out the list below, and please offer your suggestions: any additional watering holes that MUST be on this list?

Canterbury Ale & Eats – This Capitol Hill dive is a place where you can truly eat, drink and be merry. The exterior resembles a medieval castle with a full suit of armor to greet you at the door. Once inside diners have endless options of pub grub and a full bar, with shuffleboard, pool tables, a number of large flat screen TVs playing whatever games are on that night of the week, and a jukebox full of all the classics.

Al’s Tavern– This Wallingford favorite is easy to miss on NE 45th Street, but those who have been in a time or two since it’s opening 7 decades ago will tell you they come back for the old school charm, and cheap good eats. Al’s is a cash only dive, with cheap burgers pints and stiffs, and prices haven’t changed much since it’s opening long ago. Al’s has a jukebox and pool tables for entertaining.

Targy’s Tavern– Who knows if the rumors ring true, but Targy’s is said to be one of the first bars in town to have opened after Prohibition went out the window. Located on Queen Anne Hill, Targy’s is away from the busy ave, but neighborhood locals will flock here for a relaxing brew or a stiff drink, and hit the dart boards or catch a game with the guys. They have a very happy happy hour from 4-7 Monday-Saturday, and all day Sunday, $2.50 bottles, and $3.50 drafts.

Twilight Exit– Can you really say anything bad about a great Central District bar that cures it’s own bacon? Twilight has a great beer selection, and happy hour with $1.50 PBRS til 8pm, and you’ll find an array of games in the back area from Ms. Pac Man to Buck Hunter, and shuffleboard. When the weather pick up again, there is ping pong out back

Hattie’s Hat– While wandering down the main strip of Ballard Ave, you’ve likely passed Hattie’s, and it’s pretty much stayed the same since they served the first brew back in 1904. They no longer open at 6am to cater to the graveyard dockworkers, but they do have two nice happy hours from 3-7 and 10-midnight, and brunch on the weekends.

In appreciation of the approval of Referendum 74 this week after elections in Washington State, Cupcake Royale on Capitol Hill is inviting the community to come out and celebrate, and dive into a free piece of what they’re claiming is the world’s largest rainbow cake (shaped in the state of Washington with Rainbow sprinkles on top!).

Photo Courtesy of Cupcake Royale

The cake will be cut at 3:00PM this afternoon and slices will be served until it’s gone. If you miss the freebies, but still want to celebrate, all Cupcake Royale locations are serving “Gaybies” mini rainbow cupcakes, and Obamacakes now through Sunday. See you on the Hill!

With Halloween right around the corner, Seattle restaurants are taking advantage of the festive scary scenery, and rewarding cladly dressed Seattleites with specials on food and drink around town, from now until October 31st. Check out the list of establishments who actually prefer if you’re dining in Zombie attire than suit and tie this week.

Boka will be offering happy hour prices on all food and drink items to all diners dressed in Zombie attire this Saturday October 27th! Zombie diners are also encouraged to head over to the Thrill the World dance off in Occidental Park to break the record for biggest “Thriller” performance.

Belltown Pub will be hosting a Dracula PJ party with Halloween food and drink available, and no cover charge from 9-close on October 27th.

Linda’s Tavern is having a 50’s themed Halloween mixer on October 31st, with guest DJ King Dude. Party begins from 8pm-close, with free entry. Costumes strongly suggested.

Cupcake Royale Place your order of 12 or more cupcakes on or before October 30th for your big Halloween party, and receive a free pint of Cupcake Royale ice cream.

Cafe Flora will host a pumpkin decorating event on Saturday from 10am-2pm in Washington Park, perfect for your little ones. Pumpkin bread, pancakes and spiced cider will be on hand to snack on during the festivities. Costumes are welcome!

BALLARD IN A NUTSHELL

Ballard is a Seattle neighborhood located northwest of downtown. Ballard is known for its nordic and maritime roots and is home to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Today the area is a popular living location with hip restaurants and a thriving condominium community.